Wrapper feeding and cutting device



March 30, 1937. D. M. HUNTER WRAPPER FEEDING AND CUTTING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l I NVENTOR M4 la. Alan;

March 30, 1937. D. M. HUNTER WRAPPER FEEDING AND CUTTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 28, 1934 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 30, 1937 UNITED STATES V attach PATENT @FENE WRAPPER FEEDING AND CUTTIN DEVICE Donald M. Hunter, Spokane, Wash.

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to a wrapper feeding and cutting device and is particularly dirooted to improvements in the means for sizing the wrappers and positioning them relative to the wrapping mechanism.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 741,769 filed August 28, 1934 for Fruit wrapping machines and presents certain new and useful improvements for varying the size of the wrapper according to the size of the object to be wrapped and includes means for centering the wrapper relative to the wrapping mechanism, as is essentially necessary to proper wrapping.

The wrappers are fed from a continuous web, preferably in the form of a roll and passed between rollers which are periodically turned by an auxiliary mechanism fractionally turned. The fractional movements of the auxiliary mechanism are controlled by means of a rotatable disc eccentric thereof and this disc is provided with an eccentric pivot carrying a connecting rod by means of which the auxiliary mechanism is made to turn the rollers. By rotating the disc, the excursions of the rollers are varied while the stroke of the connecting rod remains constant.

Means are provided to interrupt the delivery of the Wrappers when required for any reason, such as the temporary absence of objects to be wrapped, or for the purpose of installing a new roll of wrappers.

Means are provided to slidably adjust the wrapper cutting mechanism to and from the wrapping means, to thereby center each size of wrapper relative to the wrapping station.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the form in which I have reduced my invention to practice and it will be understood that modifications may be made in the disclosed construction without departing from the principles of the invention and the intent of the claims.

'Figure 1 shows the invention and a fragment of a wrapping machine.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail View of the wrapper feeding and sizing mechanism.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the wrapper sizing mechanism.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical section of Figure Figure 6 is an underside View disclosing the slidable adjustment.

The device may be individually operated and employed to deliver sized sheets in stacked formation, or it may be installed in various forms of wrapping machines and operated from their drive means in coordination with the wrapping operation.

In Fig. 1 the invention is shown housed in the frame N which is slidably mounted on the frame F of a wrapping machine having a wrapping station A which may take any suitable form and the wrapping operation may be accomplished in any suitable manner, such details being no part of the present invention.

The frame N may consist of any suitable endplates supported upon a base. The roller I2 is journaled in the frame N and the roller I 3 is journaled in a floating bearing vertically slidable in the frame. The spring I30; urges the roller I3 towards the roller I2 which is provided with a pinion I! which is turned by means of a gear IO.

As seen in Figure 4, the gear Ill and the drum 9 are both journaled on a dead spindle rigid with the frame N and bearing surface is enhanced by an internal hub on the drum 9. As seen in Figures 2 and 4, a ratchet wheel Illa is rigid with the gear I0, and the drum 9 carries a pawl adapted to engage the ratchet wheel Iila. This pawl is urged by a suitable spring carried by the drum 9 which also carries the detent 90 which is adapted to hold the pawl free of the ratchet wheel when required for any reason.

The disc 9e is rotatably mounted on the exterior of the drum 9 and eccentrically thereof. The connecting bar 8 is pivoted eccentrically of the disc 96', whereby rotation of the disc 9e will alter the radial distance between the axis of the drum 9 and the pivot of the bar 8, which of course affects the rotation of the drum 9, the thrust of the bar 8 being constant. The disc 9e may be held in any required position of rotation by any suitable means, as for instance by means of the post 9 engaging one of a series of spaced notches on the periphery of the disc 96. The disc 9e may be recessed into an appropriate boss 971., in which case the boss is of course bored to admit the post 9), which latter member is preferably threaded into the drum 9. Three appropriately positioned posts similar to 9]" may be utilized and the disc 9e rotated in its boss, piv- 45 oting of said disc being omitted. The present means is used for the convenience of illustration, and for greater facility, I employ a spring pressed detent pin, appropriately located in the pivoted disc 99 and alternately engaging in complementary holes, spaced in a semicircular arrangement in the drum 9 and concentric with the pivoted disc 96.

A suitable scale designating the size of the wrappers is illustrated in Figure 2 and an appropriate mark on the disc 9e indicates the adjusted size. It should be mentioned that the decentration of the pivot for the bar 8 is exaggerated for the convenience of illustration, and that relatively less eccentric position is required.

The disc 86 may be manually rotated, or suitable mechanical means may be employed, as for instance the disc may be provided with teeth adapted to be turned by a worm.

From the foregoing description it will be readily understood that the pivotal connection of the connecting bar 8 can be varied between the two extremes indicated by the arrows in Figure 2 and that the resulting difference in distance from the axis of the drum 9 will alter the excursions of the rollers l2 and I3 and consequently the length of wrapper delivered thereby.

The illustrated drum 9 is preferable for com mercial practicability; but of course, this drum may be supplanted by a radius arm carrying the instrumentalities otherwise carried by the drum. It will also be understood that the ratchet mechanism may be supplanted by a suitable clutch mechanism, as for instance the invention was originally reduced to practice with a roller clutch carried by the drum 9 and engaging complementary parts carried by the gear ID.

The wrappers are provided in a roll E supported on a spindle l6 detachably mounted in the open slots l6a provided in a vertical extension of the frame N, and a suitable spring [6b prevents excess rotation of the wrapper roll E. From this roll, the wrappers are fed between the rollers i2 and I3 and passed between the knives l4 and Ma, as indicated by the dot and dash line in Figure 5. The knife I4 is rigid with the frame N and the ends of the knife bar I la are vertically slidable in the guides Mb fashioned in the frame N. The knife bar id is formed with a lip which extends within close proximity to the roller I2 andforms an apron bridging the gap between this roller and the knife i4, thus adequately supporting the wrapper in required position for cutting.

The knife Ma. and the connecting bar 8 may be operated by any convenient means and coordinated with the wrapping mechanism as occasion requires. In the present instance, I have shown the frame N carrying the wrapper roll and the previously described mechanism, slidably mounted as a unit on the frame F of a Wrapping machine having a wrapping station A. On opposite ends of the shaft M are cams 3 and 4 rigid with the shaft which turns counterclockwise in Figures 1 and 5. As seen in Figure 1, to the cam 4 is secured an arm 4a, to which is pivoted the connecting bar 5, the opposite end of this bar is pivoted to the rocker arm ta on the collar 6 which turns fractionally on the dead spindle I secured in the frame F, the collar 6 being retained upon this spindle by a suitable collar la. The collar 6 carries a second rocker arm 62) to which the connecting bar 8 is pivoted.

The knife bar I40. is connected to the lever l5, by means of the link I51; and like structure is provided on each end of the knife bar Ma. The levers l5 are in the nature of bell cranks and are each fulcrumed as indicated at I51) and are pendant therefrom, their lower ends engaging with the aforementioned cams 3 and 4, by which they are actuated once upon each revolution of the shaft M. As seen in Figure 1, the cams engage the levers after the radius arm 4a has completed its full stroke, and from this description, it will be seen that the rollers I2 and [3 complete their excursion, remain stationary, after which the knife Ma is actuated. As shown in Figure 5, the cam 3 is set slightly in advance of the cam 4 toafford the proper shear action, and of course the necessary freedom is provided in the pins 540. The shaft M and the cams 3 and 4 are here shown as a part of the wrapping machine to which the invention is attached and it will be readily understood that this shaft and its cams may be mounted immediately above the knife bar Ma so as to urge it downward against suitable springs; in which case, the connecting bar 8 can be pivoted direct to the arm 4a, thereby eliminating the intermediate parts illustrated in Figure l, and also eliminating the levers I5 and links l5a; and of course the shaft can be turned in any suitable manner.

The sizing of the wrappers is supplemented by appropriate width of the wrapper roll E and each size of wrapper is properly positioned relative to the wrapping station A by slidably adjusting the frame N to and from the wrapping station. The slidable adjustment of the frame N may be accomplished in any practical manner, as for instance by means of bolts, each slidable in a slot in the base of the frame N and threaded into the cross member I, as shown in Figure 5. Preferably, the cross member I and the base of the frame N are spaced by appropriate bosses each having a suitable key-Way to assure constant alignment. As seen in Figure 6, the lever I, which is in the nature of a bell crank, is fulcrumed on a pivot 2! in the cross member I and provided with a stud l9 engaging in a slot 20 in the base of the frame N, whereby the lever l8 can be employed to slidably adjust the frame N as required, a suitable scale and indicator being provided on the exterior as illustrated in Figure 1; and for practical purposes, this scale is preferably, separate and applied in any convenient manner.

As seen in Figure 5, the gap between the knife [4 and the wrapping station A is bridged by the apron H which is attached to frame N and supported by the table of the Wrapping machine. The apron H is of appropriate size to prevent it from leaving the wrapping table when the frame N is retracted to the maximum and also to prevent it from encroaching unduly upon the wrapping station when the frame N is advanced to its most forward position.

To accommodate instances where the supply of articles to be wrapped is momentarily interrupted, it is advantageous to interrupt the delivery of wrappers without stopping the machine. This may be accomplished by a suitable detent engaging the ratchet pawl 9a, whereby the latter member is held free of the ratchet wheel Ilia. Preferably, I employ a small cam 90 pivoted in the drum 9 and externally thereof provided with a hand wheel or thumb-key 9d, the operation of which will appear obvious, the action being illustrated in Figure 4. Other means may be employed for interrupting the delivery of the wrappers, as for instance the pinion Il may be feathered on its shaft and the former provided with an appropriate hand wheel, preferably free upon a collar rigid with said pinion, whereby said pinion may with facility be" disengaged and reengaged with the gear ill; or, the pinion H may be free upon its shaft and held in position by a collar rigid with said shaft, said collar having a secondary transverse bore through which passes a detent pin, which latter member engages in a complementary transverse bore in the pinion II. The detent pin may be moved by any suitable means, as for instance, by a slidable collar, preferably provided with a handwheel, free thereupon, and obviously said retaining collar being rigid with its shaft, the pinion II will turn the shaft when engaged with said rigid collar by means of the described detent pin and disengagement will permit the pinion II to turn free upon its shaft unaccompanied by rotation of the rollers I2 and I3. Either of such provisions will preclude the necessity of stopping the machine to preclude the delivery of wrappers in the absence of objects to be wrapped, which is of course objectionable.

In the operation of the invention, the wrappers are fed from roll E, and passed between the rollers l2 and I3, the disc Se is then rotated to required position and secured by means of the post 9 the frame N is slidably adjusted to center the wrapper relative to the wrapping station A. From the relative position of the parts as illustrated, it will be obvious that as the cams turn counterclockwise they will contact the levers l5 and sever the stationary wrapper, the first half turn constituting the idle stroke of the wrapper feeding mechanism and the second half turn actuating the rollers l2 and I3 to deliver the sized wrapper; the rollers then remain stationary and as the cams continue to turn, the delivered wrapper will be severed. It will be readily understood that the size of the wrapper can be varied by rotating the disc 9e and that each size of wrapper can be properly centered relative to the wrapping station A by slidably adjusting the frame N. When required for any reason, the

delivery of the wrappers can be interrupted by means of the thumb-key 9d, without the necessity of stopping the entire mechanism.

In the invention herein disclosed, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A feeding and cutting device comprising a pair of feed rollers, a wheel operatively connected with one of said rollers, a crank pin carrying member journaled coaxially of said wheel,

rotatable means for moving said crank pin to alter its radial distance from said coaxial center, a connecting bar pivoted on said crank pin, means for reciprocating said connecting bar, means for periodically interengaging said coaxial members to produce rotation of said rollers, a cutting device coordinated with said feed rollers, and means for actuating said cutting device during each quiescent period of said rollers.

2. A feeding and cutting device comprising a pair of feed rollers, a wheel operatively connect ed with one of said rollers, a crank pin carrying member journaled coaxially of said wheel, rotatable means for moving said crank pin to alter its radial distance from said coaxial center, a

connecting bar pivoted on said crank pin, means for reciprocating said connecting bar, means for periodically interengaging said coaxial members to produce rotation of said rollers, manually operated means for engaging and disengaging the mechanism from operative relation with said rollers, a cutting device coordinated with said feed rollers, and means for actuating said cutting device during each quiescent period of said rollers.

3. A feeding and cutting device comprising a pair of feed rollers, a wheel adapted to turn one of said rollers, means pivoted coaxially of said wheel and carrying a reciprocating drive means eccentrically movable about a pivot eccentric of said coaxial center, means for holding said drive means at a predetermined radial distance from said coaxial center, means for reciprocating said drive means, means for interengaging said coaxial members to produce periodic fractional movements of said Wheel in one direction, a pair of coacting knives, and means for actuating said knives while said rollers are stationary.

4. A feeding and cutting device comprising a pair of feed rollers, a wheel adapted to turn said rollers, means for periodically turning said wheel fractionally, said means coaxially pivoted with said wheel and carrying a rotatable member having a connecting bar pivoted eccentrically thereof, means for locking said rotatable member, means for reciprocating said connecting bar, a cutting device, and means for actuating said cutting device while said rollers are stationary.

5. A feeding and cutting device comprising a pair of feed rollers, a wheel adapted to turn one of said rollers, a member rotatably mounted coaxially with said wheel, a plate pivoted eccentrically of said rotatable member, reciprocating drive means pivoted eccentrically of said plate, means for holding said plate in fixed relation to said rotatable member, means for reciprocating said drive means, means for interengaging said wheel and rotatable member during one direction of rotation, a pair of coacting knives correlated with said feed rollers and means for actuating said knives after each excursion of said feed rollers.

6. A feeding and cutting device comprising a pair of feed rollers, pivoted means for actuating said rollers, a rotatable disc carried by said actuating means and eccentrically thereof, a connecting bar pivoted eccentrically of said disc, means for locking said rotatable disc, means for actuating said connecting bar, a pair of coacting knives correlated with said feed rollers and means for actuating said knives while the feed rollers are stationary.

7. A feeding and cutting device comprising a pair of feed rollers, a ratchet wheel operatively connected with one of said rollers, a pawl carrying member mounted coaxially of said ratchet wheel, a crank pin carrying member radially spaced and rotatably mounted upon said pawl carrying member, means for holding said crank pin carrying member in selective position of relative rotation to radially space its crank pin from the axis of said pawl carrying member, a connecting bar pivoted on said crank pin, means for reciprocating said connecting bar to produce periodic rotation of said rollers, a cutting device coordinated with said feed rollers, and means for actuating said cutting device during each quiescent period of said rollers.

8. A feeding and cutting device comprising a pair of feed rollers, a ratchet wheel operatively connected with one of said rollers, a pawl carrying member mounted coaxially of said ratchetwheel, a crank pin carrying member radially spaced and rotatably mounted upon said pawl carrying member, means for holding said crank pin carrying member in selective position of relative rotation to radially space its crank pin from the axis of said pawl carrying member, a connecting bar pivoted on said crank pin, means for reciprocating said connecting bar to produce periodic rotation of said rollers, manually operated means for engaging and disengaging the mechanism from operative relation with said rollers, a cutting device coordinated with said feed rollers, and means for actuating said outting device during each quiescent period of said rollers.

9. A feeding and cutting device comprising a frame slidably mounted on a support, a cutting 5 device carried by said frame, a pair of feed rollers, means for periodically actuating said feed rollers, means eccentrically rotatable about an eccentric pivot and adapted to alter the excursions of said rollers, means for periodically l0 actuating said cutting device while said feed rollers are stationary, and means for slidably adjusting said frame.

10. A feeding and cutting device comprising a frame slidably mounted on a support, feed rollers 15 carried bysaid frame, a knife bar rigid with said frame, a knife carried by said knife bar, said knife bar formed with a lip bridging the gap between said knife and one of said rollers, an apron carried by said frame and correlated with said 0 knife, a movable knife correlated with said rigid knife, means for periodically actuating said feed rollers, means eccentrically rotatable about an eccentric pivot and adapted to alter the excursions of said rollers, means for periodically 25 actuating said movable knife while said feed rollers are stationary, and means for slidably adjusting said frame.

11. A feeding and cutting device comprising a slidably mounted frame, a knife carried by said frame, a pair of feed rollers, a pinion adapted to turn one of said rollers, a gear engaged with said pinion, a ratchet wheel rigid with said gear, a rotatable drum, said gear and drum coaxially mounted, a pawl carried by said drum and engaging said ratchet, a disc rotatably mounted upon said drum and eccentric thereof, a connecting bar pivoted eccentrically of said disc, means for holding said disc in fixed relation with said drum, means for reciprocating said connecting bar, and means to actuate said knife.

12. A'feeding and cutting device comprising a slidably mounted frame, a pair of feed rollers, a pinion adapted to turn one of said rollers, a gear engaged with said pinion, a ratchet wheel rigid with said gear, a rotatable drum, said gear and drum coaxially mounted, a pawl carried by said drum and engaging said ratchet, a disc rotatably mounted upon said drum and eccentric thereof, a connecting bar pivoted eccentrically of said disc, means for holding said disc in fixed relation with said drum, means for reciprocating said connecting bar, a fixed knife bar having a lip extending in proximity to one of said rollers, a knife rigid with said knife bar, an apron correlated with said knife, a movable knife coacting with said rigid knife, and means to actuate said movable knife.

' DONALD M. HUNTER. 

